Ampoule

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a plastic ampoule which comprises a container ( 12 ) for receiving a defined field. Said container is provided with a neck ( 14 ) that can be closed by means of a head ( 16 ), the neck comprising a channel-type entrance port ( 24 ) for air to be interior ( 26 ) of the container ( 12 ). The aim of the invention is to improve the generic ampoule types in such a manner that the fluid can be safely stored and the syringe or needle base is reliably filled at any speed of withdrawal by means of the syringe or needle base. For this purpose, the entrance port ( 24 ) for air consists of at least one ring channel ( 28, 30 ) that is at least partially disposed on the outer and/or inner periphery of the neck ( 14 ).

The invention relates to a plastic ampoule with a container part for holding a definable fluid, which is provided with a neck part which can be closed by a head part and which has a channel-like entry point for air into the interior of the container part.

DE 39 16 840 C2 discloses a dimensionally stable plastic ampoule for a liquid (fluid) which can be withdrawn from the ampoule by means of a syringe body which on its end which is to be inserted into the ampoule neck has a withdrawal nozzle in the form of a cone, the inside wall of the ampoule neck in the area intended for contact of the cone being provided with a sealing zone which prevents passage of liquid between the cone wall and the inside wall of the ampoule neck and which yields contact along a circular line. In that in the known solution the free end of the neck of the ampoule is configured as a contact surface for the face of the syringe body bearing the cone, and in the longitudinal direction of the neck has a distance from the sealing zone so that when the face of the syringe body abuts the contact surface of the neck the contact pressure of the cone against the inside wall of the neck is limited to a value which ensures entry of air between the wall of the cone and the inside wall of the neck while maintaining an obstruction for passage of liquid, when the syringe is drawn up normally by way of the syringe plunger, liquid can be easily withdrawn manually, even if the ampoule, as is customary, is standing on its head for the withdrawal process, that is to say, its neck part is pointing down.

But it has been shown in practical applications that in a very rapid drawing-up process by means of the syringe a type of short can occur, i.e., the liquid remains in the container part of the ampoule, and essentially only air is subsequently suctioned into the syringe body in the withdrawal process, which air is stored at least also in part in the container part of the ampoule if the latter is not completely filled with the pharmaceutical liquid.

Attempts with the solution as claimed in the invention to achieve increased air entry from the outside to the inside by the inside wall of the ampoule neck in the area intended for contact of the cone of the syringe body forming an annular bead which projects radially to the inside over the adjacent inside wall areas and to provide the section of the neck part intended for contact of the cone on its inside with at least one longitudinal groove which is open to the inside and which extends parallel to the longitudinal axis of the ampoule in order to raise the entry point for ambient air in this way have not proven sufficient to effectively solve the problem of a ventilation short in rapid withdrawal processes.

Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 5,716,346 discloses a process for filling a syringe or cannula with injectable fluids from a storage ampoule, the syringe being equipped with a first coupling element and an opening which is connected to the inner cylindrical cavity of the syringe (Luer lock system) such that the liquid flows past the first coupling element and through the opening into the cylindrical cavity and fills the syringe or cannula, in this way a connection being established which is sealed liquid-tight and accordingly the ampoule can be provided with elastic walls which collapse under the negative pressure in the withdrawal process by means of the syringe or cannula body and thus ensure the withdrawal process. The pertinent withdrawal process which is to take place airtight with the known device consequently cannot be applied to dimensionally stable ampoules in this way and as a result of the “collapsible ampoule walls” a negative pressure forms within the ampoule with the result that in the withdrawal process by means of the syringe the contents are necessarily suctioned back again into the ampoule.

On the basis of this prior art, the object of the invention is to further improve the generic ampoule design referred to in the foregoing such that a reliable storage possibility of fluid in ampoule bodies is created and moreover, at any rate of withdrawal by means of the syringe or cannula body, reliable filling of the latter is achieved. This object is achieved by an ampoule with the characteristics specified in claim 1 in its entirety.

In that, as specified in the characterizing part of claim 1, the entry point for air consists of at least one annular channel which is configured at least partially on the outer and/or inner circumferential side on the neck part of the ampoule, it becomes possible to a high degree for the ambient air to be able to penetrate into the interior of the container part so that in this way regardless of the withdrawal rate on the actuating plunger of the syringe or cannula body, reliable, complete withdrawal of the contents of the ampoule in the form of a pharmaceutical liquid is effected and the described shorts in the withdrawal process are reliably precluded with the solution as claimed in the invention.

Due to the annular channel made in the neck part, for the air which is to flow in, a kind of swirl guide forms around which the withdrawn liquid flows on the outer circumferential side in the withdrawal process in the neck part; in terms of flow engineering this is favorable for the withdrawal process. Preferably it is provided that the respective annular channel is configured helically on the neck part over a definable thread distance. Here the helical annular channel preferably has an inlet and outlet point so that in this way only conical withdrawal nozzles can be fixed on the ampoule according to the contents of DE 39 16 840 C2 which relate to a Luer lock connection as is established in ISO Standard 594/1, first edition, dated Jun. 15, 1986. With this ampoule as claimed in the invention, however, also connections of the syringe bodies and cannulas can be established, as are described in ISO Standard 594/2, first edition, dated May 1, 1991, under part 2, Lock fittings.

In another preferred embodiment of the ampoule as claimed in the invention, the respective annular channel with its groove-shaped recess is interrupted at least partially by way of longitudinal bridges which are positioned in the mold plane of the container part. In this way the ampoule along with the contents can be obtained especially efficiently and economically by way of a blow molding and filling process and moreover the threads of the annular channel are stiffened accordingly.

In another preferred embodiment of the ampoule as claimed in the invention, on the outer circumferential side on the neck part and outside of the respective annular channel there is a stop part as protection against stripping. In particular, connection pieces as per part 2 of the indicated ISO standard can be fixed reliably on the ampoule with its neck part in this way and removed after the withdrawal process also by twisting off of the neck part without hindrance.

The ampoule as claimed in the invention will be detailed below using the drawings, in which in diagrammatic form and not drawn to scale

FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the upper container part of the ampoule with the neck part and toggle closure according to a first embodiment;

FIG. 2 shows in a perspective and cutaway view the neck part with the top part of the container as shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 shows am embodiment which has been altered compared to FIGS. 1 and 2,

FIG. 4 shows in a longitudinal section the front part of the ampoule body or syringe body as per ISO 594-2, first edition dated May 1, 1991.

FIG. 1 shows the top part of a dimensionally stable plastic ampoule produced in a blow molding process and which contains a pharmaceutical liquid which can be withdrawn by means of a syringe or a cannula. The container part 12 of the pertinent ampoule is shown for example in its entirety in FIGS. 1 and 2 of DE 39 16 840 C2. The top of the container part 12 is adjoined by an essentially cylindrically configured neck part 14 which can also be provided toward its free side conically with a slight incline (not shown). The neck part 14 of the ampoule adjoins a head part 16 which is made integrally with it and which for its part is made integrally with a molded-on toggle part 18. The neck part 14, the head part 16 and the toggle part 18 are conventionally molded following the filling of the container part 12, at the same time with molding, the container part 12 with its container contents in the form of a fluid being sealed under sterile conditions. To clear the neck opening 20 (cf. FIG. 2) a separating point is formed between the neck part 14 and the head part 16. To form the separating point 22 the neck part 14 and the head part 16 are tapered conically on their sides facing one another. If the toggle part 18 is turned by hand relative to the container part 12, the head part 16 shears off the neck part 14 at the separating point and in this way the neck part opening 20 is then cleared for a fluid withdrawal process.

As FIGS. 1 to 3 show further, the neck part 14 is provided with a channel-like entry point for air designated as 24 as a whole for the supply of air to the interior 26 of the container part 12. The indicated entry point 24 for air consists of two annular channels 28, 30, the annular channel 28 being located on the outer circumferential side on the neck part 14 and the other annular channel 30 on its inside circumference (cf. FIG. 2). As can furthermore be seen from FIGS. 1 and 2, the respective annular channel 28, 30 is configured helically in the form of a screw thread over a definable thread distance on the neck part 14. Furthermore, the respectively helical annular channel 28, 30 has an inlet point 32 and an outlet point 34. This facilitates screwing the connecting part of a syringe or cannula body on and off; this will be detailed below. Furthermore, the profile shape of the respective annular channel 28, 30 is that of a trapezoid and the single-turn thread allows one full turn by approximately 360°.

Furthermore, the ampoule on the outer circumferential side on the neck part 14 and preferably positioned outside the respective annular channel 28 has as stop part 36 as protection against stripping for the syringe or cannula body which is to be screwed on. In this way damage to the thread parts and to the neck part 14 of the container 12 of the ampoule is reliably avoided. The corresponding stop parts (not shown) can also be provided with respect to the inner annular channel 30 on the inside of the neck part 14 in order in this way to form protection against stripping on the inner circumferential side. Furthermore, the respective outer annular channel 28 with its groove-shaped recess is interrupted by way of two longitudinal bridges 38 which on the neck part 14 diametrically opposite one another form an extension of the mold bridges 40 which, located in the same plane on the container part 12, form a separating plane on which the mold halves of the mold of the blow molding machine which is not detailed and which is used to produce the ampoule abut one another. The annular channel 28 and consequently also the neck part 14 can be stiffened by way of the pertinent longitudinal bridges 38 so that the thread is preserved even at a high screwing-on moment.

The thread formed by the respective annular channel 28, 30 can be dictated by its screw-in distance and in the embodiment as shown in FIG. 3 more or less in the middle of the neck part 14 a thread turn which is shortened in the circumferential direction is apparent with a stop part 36 as protection against stripping, which stop part lies over it when viewed in the direction of looking at FIG. 3.

FIG. 4 now shows the face end of the cannula body 42 according to ISO Standard 594-2, first edition, dated May 1, 1991, part 2. This cannula body 42 on its free end has a fixing part 44 with an inside thread 46 and in the middle the fixing part 44 is penetrated by a withdrawal opening 48 which on the face with a definable projection overlaps the free stop end 50 of the fixing part 44 and otherwise the withdrawal opening 48 is provided with a center channel 52 which enables liquid withdrawal from the ampoule 10 by way of the neck part opening 20 if the plunger part of the cannula body 42 which is not detailed is pulled out of its front into its back position.

If in an ampoule according to the preceding figures the head part 16 is removed by way of the toggle part 18, the neck part 14 with its neck part opening 20 is cleared. The inside thread 46 of the fixing part 44 of the cannula body 42 can be then screwed clockwise onto the helical annular channel 28 on the outside circumference of the neck part 14 of the ampoule for a withdrawal process. The screwing-on process takes place until either the free stop end 50 comes into contact with the top 54 of the container part 12 which tapers slightly conically for this purpose and/or until part of the inside thread 46 abuts the stop part 36 of the neck part 14, delimiting it, and in this way stops the screwing-on motion.

Since the top 54 of the container part 12 tapers slightly conically and moreover the stop end 50 is configured as a stop ring which extends flat and transversely to the longitudinal axis 56 of the cannula body 52 and the ampoule, a gap is formed through which air flows into the annular channel 28 of the neck part 14 and as a result of the generously dimensioned cross sectional shape in the form of a trapezoidal thread profile a relatively large amount of air travels by way of the inlet point 32 of the annular channel 28 into the edge-side area of the neck part opening 20 and from there into the latter and into the interior 26 of the container part 12. Even for very rapid withdrawal processes in which the plunger of the cannula is moved instantaneously to the rear out of the cannula body 42, in the process so much air continues to flow in subsequently by way of the annular channel 28 that a negative pressure which adversely affects the withdrawal process cannot occur in the ampoule, but the fluid can be removed directly from the ampoule. The shorting processes which are described in the prior art and in which only air is then subsequently suctioned in, is reliably prevented with the solution as claimed in the invention.

The pertinent withdrawal process is further promoted for the purpose of swirl guidance the amount of air supplied by way of the annular channel 28 is conveyed by way of the neck part opening 20 along the inner annular channel 30 into the interior 26 of the container part 12. Depending on the respective withdrawal situation it can also be sufficient according to FIG. 3 to provide only one segment of an inner annular channel 30 or an outer annular channel 28. But preferably it is provided, as shown in FIG. 2, that the groove-shaped thread depressions extend from the outer annular channel 28 and the inner annular channel 30 in an alternating sequence along the neck part 14. When the withdrawal process has ended, the cannula body 42 can be removed from the ampoule 10 in the direction opposite direction of rotation, as described, and the ampoule can be disposed of in the conventional manner.

Although the outer annular channel 28 is used as a counterpart for the inside thread 46 of the cannula body 42, the free annular channel cross sections are dimensioned such that air can subsequently flow more or less unobstructed from the outside into the interior of the container part 12 for a withdrawal process, preferably as a kind of swirl guide. The configuration as claimed in the invention is also suited for those cannula bodies which do not have an inside thread 46 on the fixing part 44, but have a smoothly running stop surface (not shown) there. The ampoule can also be used for Luer connections as per ISO 594/1, first edition, dated Jun. 15, 1986, in which only a conical withdrawal cone is present, comparable to the withdrawal opening 48 as shown in FIG. 4. The corresponding air guidance is then managed by way of the internally running annular channel 30 of the neck part 14. In spite of the complex annular channel geometry in the form of a screw helix, this withdrawal device for the ampoule is cost-effective to manufacture so that compared to the other known solutions no additional costs arise, but compared to known solutions, with the ampoule as claimed in the invention a reliable and quick fluid withdrawal process by way of a cannula or syringe body is achieved. 

1. Plastic ampoule with a container part (12) for holding a definable fluid, which is provided with a neck part (14) which can be sealed by a head part (16) and which has a channel-like entry point (24) for air into the interior (26) of the container part (12), characterized in that the entry point (24) for air consists of at least one annular channel (28, 30) which is configured at least partially on the outer and/or inner circumferential side on the neck part (14).
 2. The ampoule as claimed in claim 1, wherein the respective annular channel (28, 30) is configured helically on the neck part (14) over a definable thread distance.
 3. The ampoule as claimed in claim 2, wherein the helical annular channel (28, 30) has an inlet point (32) and an outlet point (34).
 4. The ampoule as claimed in claim 2, wherein the profile shape of the annular channel (28, 30) is configured metrical or trapezoidal or in the form of a Whitworth thread.
 5. The ampoule as claimed in claims 1, wherein the respective annular channel (28, 30) with its groove-shaped recess is interrupted at least partially by way of longitudinal bridges (38) which are positioned in the mold plane (40) of the container part (12).
 6. The ampoule as claimed in claims 1, wherein on the outer circumferential side on the neck part (14) and outside of the respectively assigned annular channel (28) there is a stop part (26) as protection against stripping. 